Hand Of Magic

Chapter 8: Decorating the blade

I was well and ready to go two days later, I had kept the crucifix around my neck, it had been

explained to me that it was also evidence of my permission to see the pope, should anything

happen to the formal seal presented to me.

I made my way to the armoury, inside I found what was typical at the time. Scientists of all

different qualifications slaving away at high tech armours and weapons, trying to find new

ways to give their faction an upper hand in the new society.

The churches boasted a certain immunity on earth and amongst all territories held by the

Kingdom of Earth. During WWIII, various religious groups had been against the war, such as

the Christians, the Jews, Bhuddists, the Muslims and so on. Hence why they were permitted

free reign and political say in the affairs of the Kingdom of Earth which was effectively made

up of the factions that brought about the end of the war. I was amazed however at how much

work and study was been done into the mechanics of war, it was almost the ultimate irony. I

knew the Kingdom of Earth was just as guilty, been paragons of peace to the eye, but at the

heart of it, been the blood thirsty war mongers they protested against. It made me question

the ethics of my very mission, was humanity truly just lost in a cycle of war and death, did

we deserve the redemption we so eagerly seek through religion. A question I would save for

Captain Haldane if I got the chance later.

80

A small man came running up to me as I came back to my senses.

"Your armour has been repaired Mr Sparrow" came the squeamish voice. I guessed that the

hands that had repaired my armour would probably need such equipment themselves. I

chuckled to myself, I was in a cynical mood, probably because I had lost and won at the same

time.

I received a quizzical look from the man in front of me.

"Sorry, but did I say something amusing?" came his confused tone.

"No, sorry, lead the way" I said in reply.

I was led through a maze of tables cluttered with electronic equipment, bullets and other

weapons and large cylindrical tubes containing dismembered pieces of the strange creatures

that roamed this land. I cringed as we passed what I was sure was a human hand. I wasn't

squeamish and had left many bodies like that myself, but never had I considered that a corpse

should be used post death. I didn't bring it up however, I knew I had no room to argue about

the ethics over what should be done about a corpse after death, I just silently wished that

mine would not be used in such a manner, however, given my situation, I had my doubts.

We eventually arrived. I saw my armour mounted on a mannequin, it seemed that most of the

scratches and dents had been buffed out. But I could easily see where the silver blade had

pierced my armour, the scientists had done a decent repair job, but some scars would remain